Piston type homogenizer mechanism



Ma rch 27, 1951 H. w. HElN 2,546,745

PISTON TYPE HOMOGENIZER MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1949 Patented Mar. 27,1951 UNITED .sTA'rss r'rsiv'r orrrc PISTON- TYPE HOMQGENIZERMECHANISMHarold W. Hein, Chicago, Illi, assignor to International HarvesterCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 15', 1949, SerialNo. 105,033

homogenizer' having a novel construction for facilitating the supply ofliquid to a homogenizing' chamber.

Various processes of homogenizing liquids con "taining fatty substanceshave been in use for v In a homogenizing operation the some time. liquidis" discharged under high pressure through a homogenizing valve having arelatively small opening. Since the liquid is discharged under highpressure the process results in breaking down the globules of fat andthereby produces an improved product in which the non-fatty constituentsare held together with the fatty substancesand the tendency forthe'particles to separate is greatly diminished.

Applicant has provided an improved homogenizing structure of theplungeror piston type. In applicants construction the supply can issecurely-supported'on a housing structure containingthe power unit forthe homogenizer. Apiston guide is positioned beneath the supply can andthe guide contains a chamber which may be placed into communication withthe supply can. A piston reciprocateswithin the piston guide, thepistonbeing arranged to force liquid under pressure through an improvedhomogenizing valve structure. The piston is provided with an elongatedrecess'at its lowenend. As the pistonis moving in one direction liquidcontained within the"chamber is forced under high. pressure The pistonthen through a homogenizing valve. moves in a-second direction withinthe piston guide; thus causing a vacuum depression within the Yhomogenizing chamber.

utilized for forcing the liquid through the homogenizing valve.

A'stil1 further object is to provide an improved plunger typeofhomogenizer wherein the plunger includes a longitudinally extendingrecess formed at its lower end, the recess providing a'riinlet i 4Claims. (01. 259 47- iii? conduit for the entrance of liquids into thehomogenizing chamber.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent uponexamination of the drawin when examined in connection with thespecificaa 7 tion.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the improved hoinogenizerstructure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a homogenizer valveshowing the improved plunger construction.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation of a recessed end portion of ahomogenizing piston.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View taken substan tially on the line 44 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a homogenizing valve takensubstantially along the line 55 of Fig. 2.

A homogenizer structure is generally designated by the referencecharacter it. The homogenizer iii includes a supporting housing H whichhas a boss or supporting member it projectin'g outwardly of the housing,ll. The'boss i2 is adapted to support a fluid supply member it bymeans-of a bolt and nut connection I 4. The fluid supply member It inturn supports a fluid supply can it. The supply can i5 is open at itstop and includes a fluid discharge opening l6.

The fluid supply member i3 includes a piston guide 5! which is definedby a vertically extending bore E8. The bore i8 is in communication withthe opening 16 in the supply can 55. The lower end of the bore I3 isprovided with a homogenizing chamber which is generally designated atl9.

A valve retainer 20 is threaded onto a projection 2| formed integrallywith the fluid supply member 53. The valve retainer 20 is provided atits lower end-with a fluid discharge outlet 22 which is adapted todirect fluid from the ho mogenizing chamber i9 to a suitable container(not shown) which may be provided for the purpose of receiving theliquid.

The homogenizing structure within the valve retainer 29 includes abreaker ring 23. The breaker ring 23 is rigidly secured between anundercut shoulder 24 of the valve retainer 29 and the projection 21 ofthe fluid supply member l3.. The breaker ring 23 includes a bore '25which is positioned in axial alinement with the chamber I9 and is incommunication therewith. The brealser23 also includes a conical orannular homogenizing surface 26-. f

A homogenizing ".valve '21 is provided with-a 3 valve stem 28, the valvestem 28 being arranged to reciprocate within the bore 25 of the breakerring 23. .The valve stem 28 also includes a plurality of longitudinallyextending recesses 29 as best shown in Fig. 4 The recesses 29 providemeans whereby liquid under pressure may be forced down against thehomogenizing valve 21. The valve -'2'|"is also provided with a conicalor annular surface providing a valve seat 30. The valve seat 30" isadapted to engage the conical homogenizing surface 26 of the breakerring 23 in complementary relation.

A valve support 3! is adapted to support the valve 2'1. The valvesupport 3! includes an annular pocket 32 which is arranged to receiveand securely support the valve 2'1. An annular homogenizing wall 3| isprovided at the upper end of the valve support 3! and is perpendicularto the homogenizing surface 26. The valve support 3! includes aplurality of peripherally extending projections 33 as best shown in Fig.which provide a plurality of vertical passages 34. The valve support 3|is resiliently mounted on a spring 35 which is biased tornove the valve21 and its conical surface 39 into complementary relation with respectto the homogenizing surface 25.

A piston or plunger 36 is adapted to reciprocate within and with respectto the supply can IS. The piston 38 is provided at its lower end with=a-longi- 'tudinally extending recess which in effect forms a conduit.il which is open at its ends. The piston or plunger 58 is arranged toreciprocate and is pivotally connected to a shaft 38. The shaft 38 isrotated in an eccentric manner by means of an eccentric drive shaft 39.The drive shaft 39 is journaled in bearings dd supported on the housingH. The drive shaft 3-9 is rotated by means of a pulley M which isrotated by means of a V-belt 42 from a drive pulley G3. The drive pulleyi3 is'driven by an electric power unit M.

In operation, the supply can 15 is filled with liquid to be homogenized.The power unit M is placed into operation and the piston 36 is arrangedto reciprocate by means of the eccentric drive shaft 39; As the spring35 is adapted to securely position the conical valve seat. 30 againstthe homogenizing surface 25 of the breaker ring 23 the chamber I9 isresiliently sealed. As the piston 36 is driven in a first or upperdirection, a vacuum depression is formed in the chamber IS. The pistoncontinues its upward travel until the recess '3? in communication bothwith the chamber l9 and the interior of the supply can l5. In view ofthe vacuum depression within the chamber l9, ia sufficient quantity ofliquid is immediately sucked into the chamber 89. Thus, the chamber iscompletely and immediately filled. The pieton thereupon moves in a.downward or second direction, whereupon the recess 31 is no longer incommunication with the supply can it. The chamber 9 is thus again closedand continued downward movement of the piston forces the liquid out ofthe chamber and down through the undercut recesses 29 of the valve stem23. The fluid is then forced under pressure between the conical surfaces26 and 3t since the pressure built up within the chamber i9 issufficient to move the valve 27 and the valve support 3i against thespring 35 thereby compressing the spring. As the liquid is moved betweenthe conical surfaces 28 and 3G thereupon striking the homogenizing wall3|, the homogenizing action takes place. The liquid thereupon passesoutwardly through the vertical passages 3:3 and out- 4 wardly of thestructure as it merges through the opening 22.

Applicant has provided a novel and practical homogenizing structurewhich is readily adapted for use in the home or on the farm. By virtueof the recessed piston construction a suiiicient quantity of liquid tofill up the chamber 19 is at all times assured since the vacuumdepression created in the chamber i9 immediately sucks in the necessaryquantity to fill the chamber. This is especially important since thereciprocation of the piston is extremely fast by virtue of theelectrical power drive connection.

A simple and inexpensive homogenizing structiu'e has been disclosed. Itis believed that the advantages and improvements have been concisely andclearly described in the specification and have been properly claimed.It must be understood, of course, that various changes and modificationsmay be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention asdisclosed nor the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. .In a homogenizer, a supply can having a fluid discharge opening, apiston guide connected to the can, said guide having a bore defining achamber in communication with the fluid discharge opening, ahomogenizing structure including a valve retainer connected to thepiston guide, said retainer including an opening adapted to dischargefluid from the chamber, a breaker ring connected to the retainer, saidring having a bore adapted to communicate with the bore in said guide, aconical surface on said breaker ring, a valve having a stemlongitudinally slidable in the bore of said ring, said valve including aconical valve seat adapted to engage the conical surface of said ring incomplementary relation, a valve support for said valve, resilient meansengaging the support for urging said valve seat into engagement with thebreaker ring, a piston ar ranged to reciprocate within the bore of thepiston guide, a longitudinally extending recess formed in one end ofsaid piston, said recess be ing arranged to provide for communicationbetween the supply can and the chamber during one position of saidpiston, and means for moving said piston to a second position wherebythe chamber is closed with respect to said supply can.

2. In a homogenizer, a supply can having a fluid discharge opening, apiston guide having a bore defining a chamber in communication with thefluid discharge opening, a homogenizing structure including a valveretainer connected to the piston guide, said retainer including anopening adapted to discharge fluid from the chamber, a breaker ringsupported by the retainer, said ring having a bore adapted tocommunicate with the bore in said guide, an annular surface on saidbreaker ring, a valve slidable in the bore of said ring, said valveincluding a valve seat adapted to engage the annular surface of saidring in complementary relation, a valve support for said valve,resilient means engaging the support for urging said valve seat intoengagement with the breaker ring, a piston arranged to reciprocatewithin the bore of the piston guide, a conduit formed in one end of saidpiston, said conduit being arranged to provide for communication betweenthe supply can and the chamber during one position of said piston, andmeans for moving said piston to a second position whereby the chamber isclosed with respect to said supply can.

3. In a homogenizer, a fluid supply can, a supply member having a boredefining a chamber, said member being in communication with the fluidsupply can, a homogenizing structure associated with said supply member,said structure ,including a valve retainer having an opening adapted todischarge fluid from the chamber, a breaker ring connected to theretainer, said ring having a bore adapted to communicate with said I apiston arranged to reciprocate within the bore of the supply member, alongitudinally eiitending conduit formed in one end of saidjpiston, saidconduit being arranged to provide for communication between the supplycan and the chamber during one position of said piston, and means formoving said piston to a second position whereby the chamber is closedwith respect to said supply can.

4.'In a homogenizer, a supply can having a fluid discharge opening, apiston guide connected to the can, said guide having an elongated boredefining a chamber in communication with the fluid discharge opening, ahomogenizing structure including a valve retainer connected to thepiston guide, said retainer including an opening adapted to dischargefluid from'the chamber, a breaker ring connected to said retainer, saidring having a bore in communication with the chamber, a homogenizervalve slidable with respect to said ring, means resiliently urging saidvalve into engagement with said breaker ring, a piston arranged toreciprocate within said chamber, a longitudinally extendin recess insaid piston, said recess having an opening opening outwardly of thelower extremity of said piston, said recess being arranged tocommunicate with the supply can during one position ofisaid pistonwherein a portion of said recess is disposed outwardly of the chamber,and means for moving said piston to a second position whereby saidrecess is disposed entirely within said chamber and the chamber isclosed with respect to said supply can.

HAROLD W. HEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,041,068 Johnson May 19, 19362,064,402 Bannister Dec. 15, 1936 2,124,580 Lavine July 26, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 530,191 Great Britain Dec. 6, 1940

